War on the Nile

book

By Lynn Bodin

War on Nile

BY MICHAEL BARTHORP

(Blanford Press, Poole, Dorset, 1984, $18.95. Also available from the Military Book Club, order #19166, if you're a member.)

We are indeed fortunate that, during 1985, the Centennary year of the fall of Khartoum and the death of Gordon, an excellent single-volume history of Britain's involvement in Egypt and the Sudan during the Colonial Era has appeared. WAR ON THE NILE is a comprehensive, well-illustrated book which presents valuable information on the Egyptian Campaign against Arabi Pasha, the Gordon Relief Expedition, the fighting around Suakin and the eventual Reconquest of the Sudan. Michael Barthorp's reputation as a competent military historian is well-established (THE NORTH WEST FRONTIER, BRITISH INFANTRY UNIFORMS SINCE 1660, BRITISH CAVALRY UNIFORMS SINCE 1660) and this, his latest book, is another jewel to add to his crown.

The serious historian (such as this reviewer) as well as the person just getting interested in the British Colonial Wars should not miss the opportunity to add this volume to their library. Dozens of illustrations and maps as well as good accounts of battles highlight the book. The Appendices contain lists of troops which participated in all of the battles, descriptions of the medals and awards presented for the campaigns and battles and a list of VC winners. Sadly, the only information which is lacking from this excellent history is detailed color uniform information. I must emphasize, however, that this book was obviously not conceived as a uniform guide, so the lack of this information is acceptable. I highly recommend WAR ON THE NILE.

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